Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina

The Rua de Santa Catarina and the Bolhão market are 2 of the most typical areas in downtown Porto. It’s also here that you can start hunting for the best francesinha in town. Do you dare?

What to visit

Rua Sta. Catarina

This street is mostly commercial and most of it is pedestrian. Most of the buildings retain its charming antique façades. The iconic café Majestic and the Almas chapel are definite points of reference here.

Mercado do Bolhão

The most traditional market of the city, this is where you’ll hear how true Porto people sound. There are plans to renovate the building until 2019 in an effort to improve the shop owner’s work as well as the buyer’s experience.

São João National Theatre

At the end of the Santa Catarina street, in the Batalha square, you’ll find the São João National Theatre. One of the 2 national theatres in the country, it was considered a national monument in 2013.

Coliseu do Porto

In Rua Passos Manuel, which is perpendicular to the Santa Catarina street, a splendid Art Déco building rises above most, the Coliseu. This is one of the main concert houses in the city.

Rivoli Theatre

The Rivoli municipal theatre is located just a few steps away from Santa Catarina, in the D. João I square. This is the stage to many plays, dance performances and the renowned film festival Fantasporto.

Where to eat

Looking for the best francesinha… The francesinha enthusiasts will find the answer to their prayers in this part of town. Try the francesinha at café Santiago or at Lado B, in Passos Manuel street. For fans of spicy, try the hottest sauce at Bufete Fase (Rua de Santa Catarina, 1147).

Majestic

A charming Art Nouveau building hosts the iconic café Majestic, in Santa Catarina street. Considered to be one of the most beautiful cafés in the world, this is where former cultural elites joined to discuss the social, political and cultural panorama at the time.

Abadia

Rua do Ateneu Comercial do Porto, 22. Open in 1930, Abadia is one of the oldest and most typical restaurants in the Invicta. The specialty of the house is Tripas à Moda do Porto (Porto tripes). $$